logo

Tea Party Caucus forms in Congress ahead of November elections

image
Created: 20 July, 2010
Updated: 13 October, 2022
2 min read

Despite infighting and charges of racism from the NAACP, the Tea Party movement now has the political backing to stay relevant in the November midterms, gaining an official caucus in Congress. 

The Washington Post reports that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) unveiled her intentions to create a Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives.  Within days, the Committee on House Administration officially approved the House Tea Party Caucus.  Like the Hispanic or the Black Caucuses, the Tea Party Caucus will not be confined to those associated with one party. Instead, it will be guided by “fiscal responsibility,” “limited government,” and a “strict adherence to the Constitution,” Bachmann said in a letter to Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif). 

In the same letter, Bachmann asked her to support the new caucus.  “The Tea Party movement has become synonymous with these principles, and a caucus taking these values to heart would work to advance them,” she wrote.  While it may seem like another political game, asking Pelosi to support the Tea Party Caucus is a very interesting move. 

It comes after Pelosi said earlier this year that Democrats and the Tea Party share some common ground.  In light of her earlier statement, Pelosi’s response and treatment of the new caucus will be an interesting one. 

The Tea Party’s surging relevance extends beyond a party caucus in the House. Based on its ideology of limited governmental intrusion, the party as it stands now is seeking a class of politicians this fall who will reflect distinct principles. 
These principles look to be different from the tax and spend mentality coming from the current career politicians in Washington. 

Coincidentally, these principles of the Tea Party resonate with the platform of conservative icon Ronald Reagan, stated just three years before his 1980 presidential campaign: 

     “Extreme taxation, excessive controls, oppressive government competition with business, galloping inflation, frustrated minorities, and forgotten Americans are not the products of free enterprise. They are the residue of centralized bureaucracy, of government by a self-anointed elite,” Reagan said in a speech before attendees at the 1977 Conservative Political Action Conference. 

In his subsequent election as president, Reagan’s message resonated with voters across the political spectrum, including those who became known as the Reagan Democrats.  Given the similarities to Reaganite principles* and the similar political climate, is it possible that the Tea Party movement will have a broad reach with the electorate this fall? 

IVP Existence Banner

With the midterm election still a ways off, the answer is still be up in the air.  One thing, however, is for sure. With a dismal 12 percent approval rating of Congress, there is certainly a “clean house” sentiment floating in the air headed into November. 

That goes for both Democrats and Republicans. No party is safe. Career politicians beware.

 

*Editor's note:  It should also be noted that under President Reagan (with a largely Republican Senate & a Democratic House), federal spending significantly increased, the budget was never balanced, the national debt doubled, and the size of government grew.  Read here.

Latest articles

votes
Wyoming Purges Nearly 30% of Its Voters from Registration Rolls
It is not uncommon for a state to clean out its voter rolls every couple of years -- especially to r...
27 March, 2024
-
1 min read
ballot box
The Next Big Win in Better Election Reform Could Come Where Voters Least Expect
Idaho isn't a state that gets much attention when people talk about politics in the US. However, this could change in 2024 if Idahoans for Open Primaries and their allies are successful with their proposed initiative....
21 March, 2024
-
3 min read
Courts
Why Do We Accept Partisanship in Judicial Elections?
The AP headline reads, "Ohio primary: Open seat on state supreme court could flip partisan control." This immediately should raise a red flag for voters, and not because of who may benefit but over a question too often ignored....
19 March, 2024
-
9 min read
Nick Troiano
Virtual Discussion: The Primary Solution with Unite America's Nick Troiano
In the latest virtual discussion from Open Primaries, the group's president, John Opdycke, sat down ...
19 March, 2024
-
1 min read
Sinema
Sinema's Exit Could Be Bad News for Democrats -- Here's Why
To many, the 2024 presidential primary has been like the movie Titanic - overly long and ending in a disaster we all saw coming from the start. After months of campaigning and five televised primary debates, Americans are now faced with a rematch between two candidates polling shows a majority of them didn’t want....
19 March, 2024
-
7 min read